Pneumatic systems



Aug. 14, 1962 N. E. BOTTINELLI ETAL 3,048,875

PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS Filed June 2, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 we 0 a I PHD" 6MINVENTORS Harry M. Rovenger Norman E. BoHinelli ATTORNEY 14, 1962 N. E.BOTTINELLI ETAL 3,048,875

PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS Filed June 2, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Fig.5

INVENTORS Harry M. Rovenger 9 Norman E. Botrinelli ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,948,875 PNEUMATIC YSTEM Norman E. Bottinelli, Dallas,Tex., and Harry M. Rovenger, 4727 Homer St., Apt. 102, Dallas, Tex; saidBottinelli assignor to Joseph P. Rossi, Dallas, Tex.

Filed June 2, 1960, Ser. No. 33,439 7 Claims. ((31. 15-4501) Thisinvention relates to pneumatic systems and more particularly topneumatic systems for building structures usable for the cleaning of thestructures or the operation of pneumatic tools.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved pneumaticsystem for building structures having a central vacuum producing deviceprovided with inlet conduits opening into selected areas whereby vacuumoperated cleaning devices may be connected to the system at such areasand be operable by the central vacuum device to remove the dirt fromsuch areas.

Another object is to provide a vacuum cleaning system wherein thecentral vacuum device draws air through the inlet conduits and expels itoutwardly of the building after drawing the dirt laden air through abody of water which separates the dirt from the air.

Still another object is to provide a vacuum cleaning system wherein thecentral vacuum device has a closed chamber, means for automaticallyfilling the chamber to a predetermined level with water upon theinitiation of operation of the cleaning system, and means fordischarging the water upon the completion of the cleaning operation.

A further object is to provide a vacuum device having a closed tank orchamber in which a body of water may be retained, an inlet opening intothe chamber below the top surface of the body of water and an outletdisposed above the top surface of the water, an air blower means fordrawing air through the inlet and expelling it through the outlet and anoutlet for permitting drainage of the water from the chamber.

A still further object is to provide a vacuum cleaning device havingelectrically controlled means for regulating the level of the watercontained in the tank and for permitting flow of water through the drainoutlet upon the completion of the cycle of operation of the cleaningsystem.

A still further object is to provide a pneumatic system having means forreversing the flow of the air between the air inlet and the air outletwhen the chamber is empty of water to provide compressed air for theoperation of pneumatically powered tools.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description of devicesconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a pneumatic systemembodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical partly sectional view of the vacuum device of thepneumatic system illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of thebranch inlets of the pneumatic system illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical partly sectional view of a modified form of thecentral vacuum device embodying the invention; and,

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit for operating thepneumatic system embodying the invention.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawing, thepneumatic system includes a central vacuum device 11 having an inletconduit 12. The inlet conduit has a plurality of branch inlets 13 whichare disposed at spaced locations in the building structure and whichopen into desired areas of the building structure. The central vacuumdevice 11 also has an air conduit 14 which may extend to the exterior ofthe building structure or to any desired discharge point. The vacuumdevice 11 also has a drain conduit 15 which is connectible through atrap 16 and a drain pipe 17 to the sewer pipe 13. Water is introduced tothe vacuum cleaning device 11 through a water supply pipe or conduit 20which is connected to any suitable source of water under pressure.

The inlet branches 13 each extend through a suitable aperture in a wall22 of the building to which is secured a closure device 23. Each closuredevice has an upwardly swinging plate 24 hingedly secured, as at 26-, tothe rectangular frame of the closure device. A switch 28 is secured tothe interior surface of each wall adjacent the plate 24 whereby it isactuated from open to closed position by a lever 30 which is actuated bythe plate when the plate is moved to the fully open position illustratedin FIGURE 3.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 2, the central vacuum or cleaningdevice 11 includes a tank 33 having a cylindrical vertical wall 34 towhose lower end is secured the conical bottom portion 35 whose lower endis connected to the drain outlet conduit 15. A blower or air pump 36 ismounted in the upper portion of the tank by means of a circular plate 37having an annular depending flange which abuts the internal wallsurfaces of the cylindrical wall 34. The support plate 37 may be securedto the cylindrical Wall in any suitable manner, as by welding, toprovide an air tight connection therebetween.

The support plate 37 is provided with a central aperture 38 which opensinto the blower housing 39. The blower housing has outlet ports 40 whichopen outwardly into a chamber 42 formed by the cylindrical wall 34, thesupport plate 37 and a divider plate 43 which is disposed in the upperportion of the tank. The divider plate has an annular flange 44 whichabuts the internal surfaces of the cylindrical wall 34 and is securedthereto in air-tight relation by any suitable means, such as welding.The upper portion of the housing 39 extends into a central aperture ofthe divider plate and is secured thereto in any suitable manner toprovide an air-tight seal therebetweenf Any suitable blower or fan isrotatably mounted in the housing 39 and is driven by a motor 46 mountedin the upper portion of the housing and disposed in the upper portionsof the tank above the divider plate. A cover 47 telescopes over theupper end of the cylindrical wall and is provided with a centralaperture through which a cable 48 of the motor extends.

The air conduit 14 extends through suitably aligned apertures in thecover 47 and in the divider plate :43 whereby air drawn from the chamber50 of the tank below the support plate 37 may be caused to move upwardlythrough the aperture 38 into the blower housing 39 and thence throughthe lateral ports 40 thereof into the chamher or passageway 42 and intothe lower end of the air pipe 14.

The inlet air pipe 12 extends through a suitable aperture in thecylindrical wall into the chamber 50 and is provided with a downwardextension 52 whose lower end is disposed below the upper surface of abody of water contained in the chamber during normal operation of thedevice 11.

The water inlet pipe 20 is provided with a valve 53 which normally isheld in closed position and which is operable by a solenoid 54. Thesolenoid opens the valve 53 when it is energized. A valve 55 isconnected to the inner end of the pipe 29 which is connected, by anysuitable fitting 56, to the cylindrical wall 34 of the tank 33. Thevalve is operated by a float 57 on the end of a lever 58 which ispivotally connected intermediate its ends, as at 59, to the valve 55.The valve 55 has an operating plunger 60 which is moved to closedposition to close the valve 55 when the float 57 is moved to an upperposition by the water when the water in the tank attains a predeterminedlevel.

A switch is mounted on the cylindrical wall 33 and has an operatinglever 66 disposed in the chamber 55 whose outer end is pivotallyconnected, as at 63, to a link 69 whose other end is pivotally connectedto the float lever 58, as at 70. Switch 65 is normally closed and ismoved to open position by the float when the water attains apredetermined height in the tank. The float switch 65 isthus operativeto disconnect the solenoid 54 from a source of electricity whenever thewater attains a predetermined height in the cylindrical tank to causethe valve 53 to close and thus prevent further flow of water into thetank.

The drain conduit or pipe 15 at the lower end of the tank is providedwith a valve 72 which is held in open position when the solenoid 73thereof is not energized and which is moved to closed position when thesolenoid 73 is energized. Operation of the solenoid 73 during use of thesystem for cleaning purposes is controlled by the switch 75 mounted onthe wall 34 whose actuating lever 76' is pivotally connected to a lever77 on whose lower end is disposed the float 79. The float 79 moves theactuating lever 76 of the normally closed switch 75 to open positionwhen the level of the water exceeds the normal predetermined height by apredetermined amount whereupon the de-energization of the solenoid 73causes opening of the drain valve 72 and the escape of a predeterminedamount of water from the tank thus lowering the level of the water inthe tank. It will be apparent that once the level of the water in thetank drops to a predetermined height, the float 79 moves back downwardlytoward the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 and causes closing of theswitch 75 and thus the energization of the solenoid 73 and the closingof the drain valve.

It will thus be apparent that by the provision of the two switches '65and 75 controlled by the floats 57 and 79 the level of the water may bemaintained at a desired level within the tank.

I will also be apparent that the provision of valve 55 which ismechanically actuated by the float 57 is a safety device which functionsin the event that the valve 53 cannot be closed due to some malfunctionof either the solenoid 54, the switch 65 or some other cause.

The control circuit for the pneumatic system 11 includes a master switchwhose movable contact 91 is connected to one side of an input circuit 92by a main conductor 93. The other side of the input circuit is connectedto another main conductor 95. The master switch has stationary contacts96 and 97. The stationary contact 96 is connected to one side of themotor 46 through conductors 100 and 161, a relay contact 102 when it isin closed position and a conductor 193. The other side of the motor isconnected to the main conductor 95 by the conductor 105. The stationarycontact 96 of the master switch is also connected to one side of thesolenoid 54 of the water valve 63 by the conductors 100 and 193, theswitch 65 when it is in closed position and the conductor 109. The otherside of the solenoid valve 54 is connected to the main conductor 95 bythe conductor 110.

The stationary contact 96 of the master switch is connected to one sideof the solenoid 73 of the drain valve 72 by the conductor 100, theswitch 75 when it is in closed position and the conductor 112. The otherside of the solenoid 73 is connected to the main conductor 95.

The relay contact 102 is moved to closed position to connect one side ofthe motor to the stationary contact 96 of the master switch whenever therelay winding is energized. One side of the relay Winding 115 isconnected to one side of the secondary winding 116 of the transformer117 by the conductor 119. The other side of the relay winding 115 isconnected to the other side of the secondary winding 116 by theconductor 120 and any one of the switches 28, when in closed position,the switches 28 being connected in parallel between the secondarywinding .116 and the conductor 120. The primary winding 122 of thetransformer 117 is connected to the main conductors 93 and 95 by theconductors 125a and 126a, respectively.

The stationary contact 97 is connected to one side of the motor 46 bythe conductor 128, the conductor 129 and the conductor 103 and to oneside of the solenoid 73 of the drain valve 72 by the conductors 128 and112.

It will thus be apparent that the motor 46 will be energized wheneverthe movable contact 91 of the master switch is moved into engagementwith the stationary contact 96 if any one of the switches 28 is closedby the lifting of a plate 24 at any one of the inlet branches 13.Closing of any one of the switches 28 energizes the relay winding 115which causes its contact 10-2 to move to closed position whereupon themotor is connected across the main conductors 93 and 95 and thereforeacross the input circuit 92.

When the system is not in operative condition, the movable contact 91 isin the open position illustrated in FIGURE 5. As a result, the solenoids54 and 73 are not energized even though the switches 65 and 75 are nowin closed position since there is no water in the tank and the floatsare in their lowermost positions. The motor 46 of course cannot now beenergized by the closing of any one of the switches 28.

When it is desired to place the pneumatic system in operation to causeair to be drawn through the inlet conduit 12 and expelled through theair conduit 14, passing through water contained in the tank in theprocess, the switch 91 is moved into engagement with the stationarycontact 96. Since the switches 65 and 75 are now in closed position,their solenoids 54 and 73 are connected across the input circuit and thevalve 72 is closed and the valve 53 is open. Water then flows in throughthe water inlet pipe 20 from any suitable source of water under pressureinto the tank through the valve 55 which is also open since the float 57is in its lowermost position. Since the drain valve is now closed, waterwill accumulate in the tank rising therein until the float 5'7 moves toits upper position illustrated in the drawing wherein the switch 65 isopened. The solenoid 54 is disconnected from the input circuit and thevalve 53 closes. Simultaneously the mechanical valve 55 will close. Themotor 46 of course remains inoperative until the operator opens one ofthe cover plates 24 in order to connect a flexible hose to a branchinlet 13. When this occurs, the relay winding 115 is connected acrossthe secondary winding 116 of the transformer 117 and causes the contact192 to move to closed position. The motor will now operate the blower orfan 36 and cause air to be drawn in through the flexible hose, to whosefree end a suitable cleaning implement is attached, the associated inletbranch 13 and the inlet conduit 12 into the chamber 50. Since thedependent portion 52 of the inlet conduit is below the surface or" thewater, the air is caused to move through the water prior to its passageupwardly through the blower housing to the outlet conduit 14. Any dirtcarried by the air of course is thus caused to come in contact with thewater and remains entrapped by the water settling to the bottom of thetank while the air moves upwardly to the outlet conduit 14.

It will be apparent that the cleaning tool at the end of the flexiblehose may be used to pick up excess water from the floors which have beenwashed and of course the dirt drawn in with the water also settles inthe tank 33. The flexible hose may also be used to clean carpets and thelike whereby only air containing dirt and no moisture is drawn into thetank.

In the event that the amount of water or the amount of dirt drawn intothe tank exceeds a predetermined amount which causes the level of theWater to rise to a predetermined height, the float 79 causes the switch75 to open whereupon the drain valve 72 opens and a suflicient amount ofwater and dirt is permitted to drain downwardly into the sewer to causethe water to again fall to the desired predetermined level whereupon thefloat 79 drops to its original position again opening the switch 75. Inthis manner the level of the water is maintained substantially constantor within a predetermined range regardless of the amount of dirt orwater drawn in through the inlet conduit 12 into the chamber 50.

When the cleaning operation has been completed, it is desirable todischarge the water from the tank together with the accumulation of thedirt and to flush the tank to insure that it is left clean until thenext cleaning operation is to be performed In this event, the movablecontact 91 of the master switch 90 is moved to the stationary con-tact115. As soon as the movable contact is moved out of engagement with thestationary contact 96, the motor 46 is disconnected from the inputcircuit and will not operate even if one of the switches 28 is closed.The solenoids 54 and 73 of the water in drain valves 53 and 72,respectively, are also disconnected from the input circuit whereupon thevalve 54 remains in closed position but the drain valve 75 opens topermit the Water to escape through the drain conduit 15 to the sewerpipe. When the movable contact 91 however engages the stationary contact115, the solenoid 54 is again connected across the main leads 93 and 95through the movable contact 91, the stationary contact 115, theconductor 116, the conductor 109, the conductor 110 and the conductor95. Water will then continue to flow into the tank flushing the tank andany dirt accumulated therein until the movable contact of the switch isagain moved to its inoperative position as illustrated in FIG- URE 5.The operator holds the movable contact in engagement with the stationarycontact 115 for any desired length of time to insure that the tank isproperly cleaned or flushed. It will be apparent of course that theoutlet of the mechanical valve 55 may be provided with any desired typeof opening which will cause the water flowing therefrom to be directedto all surfaces of the tank which might be covered by dirt. The masterswitch 91 is then moved back to its inoperative position illustrated inFIGURE 1 ad the pneumatic system is then ready to repeat the above cycleof operation the next time a cleaning operation is desired to beperformed.

It will now be seen that a new and improved pneumatic system has beenillustrated and described which includes a vacuum device 11 having atank 33 which provides a chamber 50 into which extends the inlet conduit12, the tank having a means for introducing water into the chamber, ameans at the lower end of the chamher for draining water from thechamber and an outlet aperture 38 at its upper end through which air maybe drawn from the upper end of the chamber by a fan or blower 36 andexpelled through an air conduit 14.

It will further be seen that the inlet pipe 12 may be provided with aplurality of branch inlets 13 having open ends to which are connectableflexible hoses or the like whereby air may be drawn through the flexiblehoses and any suitable implements or tools secured to the free endsthereof, and through the inlet branches and the inlet conduit into thechamber to be expelled thereunto below the surface of the watercontained in the chamber.

It will further be seen that an automatic control system has beenillustrated and described which causes water to be introduced into thechamber to a predetermined height on the initiation of operation of thecleaning system and which causes the water and accumulated dirt to drainout of the chamber upon the completion of the cleaning operation.

It will further be seen that the control means also provides for theflushing of the chamber with water on the completion of a cleaningoperation.

It will further be seen that the control means also includes means foropening the drain valve whenever the water in the tank rises above apredetermined level in order to prevent any water to be drawn upwardlythrough the fan or blower 36.

It will further be seen that the water inlet pipe 20 is provided notonly with an electrically operable valve 53 but also with a mechanicallyoperable valve 55 which closes whenever the level of the water in thechamber rises above a predetermined height whereby flooding of thechamber to an undesired degree with water is prevented even in the eventof failure of the water valve 53.

It will further be seen that the valves 53 and 72 are respectivelyclosed and open when the solenoid valves 53 and 73 are de-energizedwhereby flooding of the chamber due to malfunction of the solenoids orof the electrical system is precluded.

In FIGURE 4 is illustrated a modified form of the cleaning system 10awhich provides for the drawing in of the air from the air conduit 14 bythe blower 36 and expelling it through the conduit 12 whereby tools tobe driven by compressed air may be connected to the inlet branches 13.

The inlet conduit 14 of the pneumatic system illustrated in FIGURE 4 isprovided with a valve having a passage 126. The valve 125 when rotatedto the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 connects the lower portion 14aof the air conduit with a bypass conduit 132 and prevents passage of airbetween the section 14b and the section 14a. The inlet conduit 12 has asimilar valve provided with a flow passage 131 which, when it is rotatedto the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, causes the inlet conduitsection 12b to be connected to the bypass conduit 132 and simultaneouslycloses off communication between the inlet conduit sections 12a and 12b.A second bypass conduit 137 is connected between the conduit sections12a and 14b and is provided with a valve 138 which when in its openposition permits passage of air through its passage 139 between thesection 14]) and the section 12a.

It will now be apparent that when the valves are in the positionsillustrated in FIGURE 4, air moved by the fan or blower 36 is drawninwardly through the air conduit 14b, which may open to the atmosphere,the flow passage 139 of the valve 138, the bypass conduit 137 and theinlet conduit section 12a into the chamber 50 of the tank 33 and ismoved under pressure by the fan through the conduit section 14a, theflow passage 126 of the valve 125, the bypass conduit 132 and the flowpassage 131 of the valve 311 to the inlet conduit section 1212 andthence the inlet conduit branches 13. A flexible hose or the like may besecured to any one of the inlet branches so that the air under pressuremay be utilized to drive any suitable pneumatically driven tool which isconnected to the flexible hose.

In the event that the pneumatic system is to be used in this manner, themaster switch 90 is provided with the stationary contact 97. When themovable contact 91 of the master switch 90 engages the stationarycontact 97, the solenoid 73 is connected across the input circuit andcloses the drain valve 72. No water is now present in the tank sinceupon the completion of the prior cleaning operation the drain valve 72was opened. The motor 46 is also placed in operation when the movablecontact 91 engages the switch 97 since it is then connected across theinput circuit. As a result the chamber is closed at its lower end andair will be drawn into the chamber only through the air conduit 14b andnot from the sewer pipe. In addition, since the air flowing through thechamber 50 does not now come into contact with any water, the airsupplied to the pneumatically powered tool is dry.

When it is desired to employ the pneumatic system a for cleaningpurposes, the valve 125 is rotated so that its flow passage 126 connectsor permits communication between the air conduit sections Ma and 14b andthe valve 13% is rotated so that its flow passage 131 permitscommunication between the flow passages of the inlet conduit sections12a and 12b. The valves 125 and 130 of course when rotated to suchpositions close off the bypass conduit 128 at each end thereof. Thebypass valve 138 is then moved to its closed position preventing anyfiow through the bypass conduit 137. Nhen the motor 46 is now energizedair will be drawn in from the inlet conduit 12 and expelled to theatmosphere through the conduit 14.

It will now be seen that a new and improved pneumatic system which maybe used either as a cleaning system which operates by suction to draw indirt, cleaning liquids or the like into the air chamber 50 of the tankor where the dirt and liquid is retained while the air is expelled tothe atmosphere through an air conduit 14 or which may alternatively beused to supply air under pressure to pneumatically powered tools, theair being drawn in through the air conduit 14 into the chamber 50 andforced from the chamber 50 into the conduit 12.

It will further be seen that a control means have been provided foreasily and quickly converting the pneumatic system to either thecleaning operation or the air tool driving operation.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A pneumatic system including: means providing a closed chamber;conduit means providing an outlet from the upper end of said chamber;blower means communicating with the upper end of said chamberfor movingair from the upper portion of the chamber outwardly thereof through saidoutlet conduit means; inlet means opening into the interior of saidchamber intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof; drain meansproviding a drain opening at the lower end of said chamber; water inletmeans providing for the introduction of water into said chamberintermediate the upper and lower ends thereof; and electrically operablecontrol means operatively associated with said water inlet means, saiddrain means and said blower means for closing said drain means andopening said water inlet means upon the initiation of operation of saiddevice; and means responsive to the level of water in said chamber formaintaining the level of the water in said chamber at a predeterminedheight above said inlet means.

2. A device including a tank; means for supporting a blower means in theupper portion of said tank and forming a chamber therebelow; air blowermeans disposed in the upper portion of said tank and supported by saidsupporting means for moving air out of said chamber; air inlet meansopening intermediate the upper and lower ends of said chamber; airconduit means opening into the upper end of said chamber andcommunicating with said blower means for conducting air moved by saidblower means outwardly of said tank; a Water inlet conduit opening intosaid chamber intermediate the ends thereof having a first electricallyoperable valve for controlling flow of water therethrough into saidtank, said tank having a drain conduit opening into the bottom u of saidtank provided with a second electrically ope-rable valve; and controlmeans for operating said water inlet valve and responsive to the levelof the water in said chamber for energizing said valve to open the valvewhenever the level of the water in said chamber falls below apredetermined level; and means responsive to the level of the water insaid tank for opening said drain conduit valve to permit flow of waterfrom said tank when the level of the water in the tank exceeds apredetermined height.

3. A device including: a tank; means for supporting a blower means inthe upper portion of said tank and forming a chamber therebelow; airblower means disposed in the upper portion of said tank and supported bysaid supporting means for moving air out of said chamber; air inletmeans opening intermediate the upper and lower ends of said chamber; airconduit means opening into the upper end of said chamber andcommunieating with said blower means for conducting air moved by saidblower means outwardly of said tank; a water inlet conduit opening intosaid chamber intermediate the ends thereof having a first electricallyoperable valve for controlling flow of water therethrough into saidchamber, said tank having a drain conduit opening from the bottom ofsaid chamber provided with a second electrically operable valve; andcontrol means for controlling the operation of said blower means andsaid first and second valve, said control means including a main switchmovable to a first operative position to energize said first and secondvalves to open said first valve and close said second valve, meansresponsive to the level of water in said tank for closing said firstvalve when the level of the water in the tank attains a predeterminedheight and for opening said second valve whenever the level of the waterin said chamber exceeds a predetermined height.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said main switch has a second operativeposition wherein said blower means is prevented from being placed inoperation and said first and second valves are held in open positions.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said inlet means is provided with aplurality of inlet branches having closures and switch means operativelyassociated with said closures for preventing energization of said blowermeans except when a closure is in open position.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein said air inlet means and said airconduit means are connected by by-pass means provided with valve meanswhereby air may be moved by the blower means through said chamberselectively from said air conduit means to said air inlet means and fromsaid air inlet means to said air conduit means.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said main switch has a third operativeposition wherein said blower means is placed in operation and saidsecond valve is in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,618,667 Melcher Feb. 22, 1927 1,727,733 Stovall Sept. 10, 19292,583,252 Carraway Jan. 22, 1952 2,825,921 Wright Mar. 11, 19582,889,003 Koch June 2, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 558,151 Canada June 3, 1958666,652 France May 27, 1929

